Turkey Sausage & Arugula Pasta

The cheese in this dish is the key to the balance of flavors. For the biggest impact, make sure to use imported Italian cheese.

From EatingWell: December 2005/January 2006, EatingWell Serves Two
Yield: 6 servings, generous 1 1/2 cups each
Active Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients

1. 12 ounces whole-wheat short pasta, such as shells or twists
2. 8 ounces hot Italian turkey sausage links, removed from casings
3. 3 cloves garlic, chopped
4. 8 cups arugula, or baby spinach
5. 2 cups halved cherry tomatoes
6. 1/2 cup finely shredded Pecorino Romano, or Parmesan cheese, plus more to taste
7. 1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
8. 1/4 teaspoon salt
9. 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

Preparation

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook pasta until just tender, 9 to 11 minutes, or according to package directions.
2. Meanwhile, cook sausage in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, breaking it up into small pieces with a wooden spoon, until cooked through, about 5 minutes. Stir in garlic, arugula (or spinach) and tomatoes. Cook, stirring often, until the greens wilt and the tomatoes begin to break down, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat; cover and keep warm.
3. Combine 1/2 cup cheese, pepper and salt in a large bowl. Measure out 1/2 cup of the cooking liquid; drain the pasta. Whisk the cooking liquid and oil into the cheese mixture; add the pasta and toss to combine. Serve the pasta topped with the sausage mixture and an extra sprinkle of cheese, if desired.

Nutrition

Nutrition Per Serving: 352 calories; 9 g fat (3 g sat, 2 g mono); 26 mg cholesterol; 47 g carbohydrates; 18 g protein; 6 g fiber; 382 mg sodium; 379 mg potassium.

Nutrition Bonus: Vitamin A (30% daily value), Fiber (26% dv), Vitamin C (20% dv), Calcium (15% dv).

2 1/2 Carbohydrate Serving

Exchanges: 2.5 starch, 2 vegetable, 2 medium-fat meat